🏹 May 23rd - The Chief Brief 🏹

Postseason Push + Recruiting Rush: Super Regionals, ACC Title Hunts & Key Official Visits on Deck

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The Chief
May 23, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!
Rivalries renewed, title runs launched, and recruiting fireworks everywhere.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

🥎 FSU Softball drops Game 1 to Texas Tech — The Noles are in must-win mode after being shut out in their Super Regional opener. Can they bounce back Friday?

⚽ Sunshine Showdown kicks off FSU Soccer’s 2025 season — The Gators are coming to town to open the regular season. Florida State will be locked and loaded.

🏐 Noles Volleyball headed for primetime clash vs. Oklahoma — Mark your calendars for September 10. It’s ACC vs. SEC on national TV.

⚾ FSU Baseball begins ACC Tournament play today — The road to Omaha starts in Durham. Can the Noles make another championship run?

⛳ Men’s Golf tees off at NCAA Championship — Luke Clanton and the red-hot Seminoles open stroke play in Carlsbad after a dominant regional win.

🦍 4⭐ EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes sets OV with FSU — One of the country’s top pass rushers will be in Tallahassee June 20 with a decision coming July 1.

🛡️ 5⭐ CB Chauncey Kennon locks in FSU visit — The top corner in Florida is giving FSU a shot before his July 6 decision.

⚡ Cam Brooks still skeptical of FSU, but OV is set — The Cal commit says it’s mom’s call. Can FSU flip the narrative?

It’s a jam-packed Friday full of postseason pressure and summer recruiting intrigue. Let’s get into it. 👇

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🥎 Noles Drop Game 1 to Texas Tech, Face Elimination Friday 🥎

Florida State has its back against the wall.

The No. 5 Seminoles fell 3–0 to No. 12 Texas Tech on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Tallahassee Super Regional — silenced by Red Raider ace NiJaree Canady in a tough opener at The Plex.

⚾ Game Recap:
• Texas Tech scored early off a throwing error and never looked back
• Solo HRs in the 4th and 7th extended the lead
• FSU had its best chance in the 5th (2 on, 1 out) but couldn’t convert

The loss drops FSU to 49–11 and sets up a must-win Game 2 on Friday at 3 PM (ESPN2). A win would force a decisive Game 3 on Saturday.

Can the Noles bounce back at home and keep their WCWS dreams alive?

⚽ FSU Soccer to Open 2025 Season with Sunshine Showdown vs. Florida ⚽

The champs are kicking things off with a rivalry.

Florida State Soccer announced its first two matches of the 2025 season — an exhibition against Alabama and a high-profile season opener at home against the Florida Gators.

🗓️ Match Details:
• Aug. 8 (6 PM) – Exhibition vs. Alabama (FSU won 4–0 in 2021)
• Aug. 14 (7 PM) – Regular season opener vs. Florida (Sunshine Showdown)

🔥 Rivalry History:
• FSU has won 7 straight vs. UF (longest streak in series)
• Outscored the Gators 9–0 in the last three meetings
• Overall series: FSU leads 17–13

With 16 returners from last season’s ACC title squad and the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the country, the Noles will be locked and loaded.

🏐 FSU Volleyball to Face Oklahoma in ‘Showdown at the Net’ on SEC Network 🏐

Mark your calendars — the Noles are headed to primetime.

ESPN announced Thursday that Florida State Volleyball will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners on September 10 as part of the Showdown at the Net — a high-profile ACC vs. SEC cross-conference challenge.

📺 Coverage: SEC Network (Time TBA)

📊 Series Snapshot:
• FSU leads all-time series 3–1
• First meeting since 2015
• Noles are coming off a 21–10 season and NCAA Tournament berth

🗂️ About the Event:
• Features 16 teams from the ACC and SEC
• Matchups hosted nationwide
• Televised across ESPN2, ACCN, SECN, and digital platforms

⚾️ FSU Set to Open ACC Tourney Against Duke on Friday ⚾️

The postseason push begins now.

No. 6 Florida State (37–13) opens ACC Tournament play Friday at 3 PM ET against No. 7 seed Duke in Durham. A win sends the Noles to the semifinals on Saturday at 5 PM. The title game is set for Sunday at noon on ESPN2.

📺 Watch: ACC Network (Fri/Sat), ESPN2 (Sun)
🎧 Listen: WFLA 100.7 FM | FSU Gameday App | Seminoles.com
📊 Stats & Live Updates: ACC StatBroadcast

🏟️ FSU at the ACC Tourney:
• 86–44 all-time in ACC Championship play
• 8 ACC Titles, including 2 in Durham (2015, 2018)
• 26–15 ACC tourney record at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
• 3 wins last year en route to title game appearance

💪 This Year’s Squad:
• 17–10 in ACC play (best finish since 2014)
• 6 of 9 ACC series won + all non-conference series swept
• .313 team AVG | 89 HR | 393 runs | 60 SB
• 4.71 staff ERA | 511 Ks in 426 IP

🌟 Key Players:
• Alex Lodise – ACC Player + Defensive Player of the Year | .422 AVG, 87 hits, 17 HR
• Jamie Arnold – 6–2, 2.59 ERA, 90 Ks (Golden Spikes + Dick Howser semifinalist)
• Joey Volini – 8–4, 3.63 ERA, 91 Ks
• Max Williams – .323 AVG, 17 HR | Gage Harrelson – .340 AVG, 70 hits, 13 SB
• Myles Bailey – All-Freshman Team | 12 HR, .302 AVG

🔥 The Matchup:
• FSU is 83–30 all-time vs. Duke
• 7–2 vs. the Blue Devils in ACC Tournament play
• The Noles went 2–2 vs. Duke this season — including a series win in Durham and a title game loss in Charlotte

🔜 What’s Next:
• NCAA Regional host sites announced Sunday, May 25
• NCAA Selection Show airs Monday, May 26 at noon (ESPN2)
• FSU fans can join the team at Bowden’s in CollegeTown for a live watch party + Inside Seminole Baseball from 1–2 PM

The road to Omaha starts in Durham. 🔱

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⛳ Clanton, Noles Open NCAA Championship Friday in Carlsbad ⛳

The chase for a national title is on.

No. 11 Florida State Men’s Golf tees off Friday in the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California. The Seminoles, seeded 8th, are coming off a dominant win at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional and will play the first two rounds paired with No. 7 Florida and No. 9 Virginia.

📅 Tee Times:
• Friday – 3:45 PM ET (off No. 10)
• Saturday – 10:25 AM ET (off No. 1)

🏁 Format:
• Top 15 teams after three rounds advance to Monday’s final stroke play round
• Top 8 teams after four rounds advance to match play starting Tuesday

🔥 Regional Recap:
• FSU won its second NCAA Regional title, finishing 29-under — 9 strokes ahead of No. 5 Ole Miss
• Luke Clanton won the individual title at 15-under, setting a new course record (201)
• Gray Albright (-7, T-6) and Tyler Weaver (-6, T-7) helped seal the win

🏆 Clanton's Streak Continues:
• Ben Hogan Award winner
• Nicklaus Award finalist (winner announced June 1)
• 4 wins this season | 8 career wins | 69.1 scoring average
• World No. 1 amateur since August 2024

The Noles are hot — and have one of the best in the world leading the charge.

🦍 4⭐ EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes Sets FSU OV, Decision Looms 🦍

Another top pass rusher is circling June 20 on his calendar — and Florida State’s squarely in the hunt.

Zavion Griffin-Haynes, a 6'6", 235-pound four-star EDGE from Rolesville (N.C.), will take his official visit to Tallahassee on June 20, as he narrows his finalists to FSU, Clemson, Michigan, and Nebraska ahead of a July 1 commitment.

🎯 National Ranking:
• No. 30 EDGE | No. 16 player in NC (247Sports)

🗓️ Official Visit Schedule:
• May 30 – Clemson
• June 6 – Michigan
• June 13 – Nebraska
• June 20 – Florida State

📣 On FSU:
“Those guys have been recruiting me since day one… just building the relationship and getting to know them more — that’s what makes them a top contender.”

Griffin-Haynes is one of the most coveted pass rushers in the country — and his final decision could shift the momentum in FSU’s 2026 defensive class.

🛡️ 5⭐ CB Chauncey Kennon Sets FSU OV, Eyes July Decision 🛡️

Florida’s top-ranked cornerback prospect is hitting the final stretch of his recruitment — and the Seminoles are right in the thick of it.

Chauncey Kennon, a five-star CB out of Sarasota Booker, will take an official visit to Florida State in June before announcing his commitment on July 6. FSU remains a major player alongside Georgia, Florida, Miami, and LSU.

📍 Official Visit Schedule:
• ✅ Florida (complete)
• May 30–June 1 – Miami
• Early June – Georgia
• June – Florida State
• Late June – LSU

🔍 National Rankings:
• No. 27 overall | No. 2 CB | No. 1 CB in Florida (247Sports)

📣 Kennon on FSU:

“I like Florida State, as a lot of people know. I feel like if the players do what they’re supposed to do, the program will elevate itself… It starts with accountability.”

📈 Decision Factors:
• Relationship building is key
• NIL “will play a part” — but not the deciding factor
• Culture, development, and trust will ultimately win out

FSU’s defensive staff — including Mike Norvell, Patrick Surtain Sr., and Tony White — continues to push for the elite in-state defender. This June visit could be their best shot to seal the deal.

⚡ 4⭐ Edge Cam Brooks Plans FSU OV Despite Skepticism ⚡

Florida State is getting a second shot — but they’ll have to earn it.

Cam Brooks, a four-star edge rusher from Thomas County Central (GA), surprised many when he committed to Cal this spring over regional powers like FSU. Now, despite feeling confident in his Cal decision, Brooks will still officially visit Tallahassee June 6–8 — largely at the urging of his mother.

👀 Brooks’ Current Stance:

“If it was up to me, I probably wouldn’t be doing it… But [my mom] wants us to hear them out. She’s a firm believer in second chances.”

🗣️ On FSU:

“I feel like they didn’t really want me… They’re showing more effort now because I committed [to Cal].”

📍 The Rundown:
• 6’2.5”, 225 lbs | No. 47 Edge in 2026 class (Top247)
• Committed to Cal after an April visit
• OV to FSU: June 6–8
• OV to Cal: June 13–15

Terrance Knighton and the Seminole staff have picked up communication, but Brooks isn’t convinced it’s genuine. Still, the visit offers a final shot at changing the narrative — and possibly flipping the recruitment back home.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today!

From do-or-die moments on the diamond to pivotal recruiting visits that could reshape FSU’s 2026 class, it’s a high-stakes weekend in Tallahassee. We’ll be watching closely as softball fights to stay alive, baseball battles for an ACC crown, and top prospects weigh Garnet & Gold.

Stay locked in — the next 72 hours could change everything.

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Catch you Monday. Until then —
Go Noles. 🔱

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